Cleveland Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Manufacturing Illegal Pills Trafficked Out of a Home Day Care

CLEVELAND - A 36-year-old man has been sentenced to prison for manufacturing fentanyl and methamphetamine pills in Cleveland and using his home day care as part of the drug trafficking operation.

Larry Crenshaw-Broadnax was sentenced to 144 months (12 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge Benita Y. Pearson after pleading guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Fentanyl. He was also ordered to serve 5 years of supervised release after imprisonment.

In January 2023, federal agents were conducting an investigation into drug trafficking in Northeast Ohio, which led them to identify Crenshaw-Broadnax as a suspect. According to court documents and evidence presented in court, during a search warrant execution at a warehouse connected to the defendant, agents discovered thousands of blue-colored pills. Several bags containing a white powder substance or multicolored tablets were also found. Additionally, agents located several industrial pill press machines and a five-gallon bucket filled with a binding agent used to make pills. The pills and powder were submitted for lab analysis and tested positive for methamphetamine and fentanyl. During a search of the defendant's residence, investigators discovered that it served as a home day care. Pills and powder substances were found there and later confirmed to contain fentanyl and methamphetamine. Agents also seized two handguns, one of which was loaded and found hidden in a children's toy toolbox.

In total, agents seized 20 kilograms of methamphetamine and 315 grams of fentanyl.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Cleveland Field Office.

The prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth Crook for the Northern District of Ohio.